Was sent this wonderful story by a West Ham supporting friend who read it on their forum....
Terrible news! Some really great memories of him and one lovely personal one.
Back at the end of 2011, my 20 year old son, then 11, was in Great Ormond St Hospital being treated for Leukaemia. His hospital room was covered in West Ham paraphernalia and one of the hospital porters got talking with him and said he would get his West ham mate to visit. We didn't think any more of it.
Couple of days later my boy was in the room one Saturday evening and in walks Papa Diop to see him. Stayed for about 15 minutes talking about West Ham and gave him a few bits and pieces wished him all the luck in the world. My boy was absolutely gobsmacked and star struck.
What a lovely gesture from the man. No fuss, no fanfare, just giving up his time for a stranger. That memory has tsayed with us forever.
Loved him as a footballer. I was eight for the 2002 World Cup - that age when you're gripped by everything vaguely football-related, as you're just starting to get into it, and a World Cup (with teams from around the world! how exciting!) sent me into overdrive.
I remember seeing the first goal of the tournament live - of course, it was The Wardrobe. I'd never heard of him before but that's what made it even more memorable. And he did that shirt-off corner flag dance thing with his teammates that made no sense to me, but I guess in a way was a Roger Milla-style moment for people my age.
And he was so great for Fulham - one of those players I always envied other clubs for having. A case in point:
Loved him as a footballer. I was eight for the 2002 World Cup - that age when you're gripped by everything vaguely football-related, as you're just starting to get into it, and a World Cup (with teams from around the world! how exciting!) sent me into overdrive.
I remember seeing the first goal of the tournament live - of course, it was The Wardrobe. I'd never heard of him before but that's what made it even more memorable. And he did that shirt-off corner flag dance thing with his teammates that made no sense to me, but I guess in a way was a Roger Milla-style moment for people my age.
And he was so great for Fulham - one of those players I always envied other clubs for having. A case in point:
Comments
RIP
RIP. His family and friends must be devastated.
RIP.
Terrible news! Some really great memories of him and one lovely personal one.
Back at the end of 2011, my 20 year old son, then 11, was in Great Ormond St Hospital being treated for Leukaemia. His hospital room was covered in West Ham paraphernalia and one of the hospital porters got talking with him and said he would get his West ham mate to visit. We didn't think any more of it.
Couple of days later my boy was in the room one Saturday evening and in walks Papa Diop to see him. Stayed for about 15 minutes talking about West Ham and gave him a few bits and pieces wished him all the luck in the world. My boy was absolutely gobsmacked and star struck.
What a lovely gesture from the man. No fuss, no fanfare, just giving up his time for a stranger. That memory has tsayed with us forever.
RIP Big Man you were a gent.
RIP, taken way too early.
I remember seeing the first goal of the tournament live - of course, it was The Wardrobe. I'd never heard of him before but that's what made it even more memorable. And he did that shirt-off corner flag dance thing with his teammates that made no sense to me, but I guess in a way was a Roger Milla-style moment for people my age.
And he was so great for Fulham - one of those players I always envied other clubs for having. A case in point:
RIP big man.
Life can be very unfair.